[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 154 (Thursday, August 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45778-45779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13100]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 080206D]


Marine Mammals; File No. 1097-1859

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Coral World (V.I.), Inc., 6450 
Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, 00802-1800, (Gertrude J. 
Prior, Responsible Party) has applied in due form for a permit to 
import four South American (Patagonian) sea lions (Otaria flavescens) 
for public display.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before September 11, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, 
Florida 33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and 
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427-2521, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
    Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing e-mail comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 1097-1859.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Swails or Jennifer Skidmore, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests authorization to import four male South 
American sea lions from International Sea Lion Search and Rescue, Koh 
Samui, Thailand to Coral World Ocean Park in St. Thomas, Virgin 
Islands. The applicant requests this import for the purposes of public 
display. The receiving facility is aware of the public display criteria 
for holding marine mammals for public display and their obligation to 
demonstrate said criteria prior to acquiring these animals. Coral 
World's programs are open to the public on regularly scheduled basis 
with access that is not limited or restricted other than by charging 
for an admission fee. Coral World offers an educational program based 
on professionally accepted standards and is in the process of receiving 
an

[[Page 45779]]

Exhibitor's License, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under 
the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. Sec.  2131 - 59). The applicant 
has completed the license inspection and paid the licensing fee.
    In addition to determining whether the applicant meets the three 
public display criteria, NMFS must determine whether the applicant has 
demonstrated that the proposed activity is humane and does not 
represent any unnecessary risks to the health and welfare of marine 
mammals; that the proposed activity by itself, or in combination with 
other activities, will not likely have a significant adverse impact on 
the species or stock; and that the applicant's expertise, facilities 
and resources are adequate to accomplish successfully the objectives 
and activities stated in the application.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: August 4, 2006.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-13100 Filed 8-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S